For the first time in 18 years, a Savannahian has taken the helm of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and that “Savannah awareness” was apparent in remarks he made Wednesday as the chamber outlined its 2013 legislative priorities at the annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast in Atlanta.
“The Port of Savannah expansion will be the biggest economic development opportunity of our generation,” said Stephen S. Green, the state chamber’s 2013 board chair.
“To take advantage of the job growth it will bring, we need to be sure that Georgia is ready to offer companies the most pro-business climate possible.”
Among the Chamber’s priorities for this year:
• Lessen regulations and improve incentives that facilitate expansions, capital investment, new recruitment, small business creation and hospitality growth.
• Expand access to venture and seed capital by offering incentives to attract venture capital firms to Georgia.
• Enact workers’ compensation system reforms that promote a balanced and equitable system that is fair to the employee and employer and designed to return the employee to work as soon as medically appropriate.
• Preserve Georgia’s employment-at-will doctrine and strengthen the state’s right-to-work status.
• Support a health care financing program through which providers can continue to care for patients without compromising the current delivery system.
• Protect the “Transportation Investment Act” to ensure the benefits of the law as passed are not diluted.
•·Encourage school improvement through a more flexible, accountable and transparent system tied to a new school rating system.
• Pursue a new school student-based budgeting funding system that would tie the majority of the state’s educational spending directly to student need.
• Pursue funding sources for continuation of Regional Water Councils and their work to implement regional water plans.
“We feel strongly that by working with lawmakers to concentrate on these legislative priorities, we will put Georgia in an even better position to compete both domestically and globally, create jobs, attract investment and strengthen our overall business climate,” Green said.
Chris Clark agreed.
“Georgia enjoyed one of the most business-friendly sessions in history last year, but in today’s global marketplace you need to constantly evolve and improve in order to stay competitive,” said Clark, Georgia Chamber president and CEO.
“To ensure that Georgia stays on the right path to economic prosperity, we need to give companies already here in Georgia every resource possible to grow and at the same time create an environment that will attract new business and investment. We look forward to working with Gov. Deal and the General Assembly this session to get these important issues addressed.”
Green, who serves as president and CEO of Morris Manning Martin & Green Consulting LLP, is the first state chamber chair from Savannah since Arnold Tenenbaum served in 1995.
His professional career has included successful roles in distribution, real estate development and banking.
“The Georgia Chamber has enjoyed tremendous successes over the last few years — thanks in large part to a great leadership team and the continued support of our investors,” Green said Wednesday.
“There is still plenty of work for us to do to get Georgia further down the road to recovery. We have an exciting year ahead of us, and we are looking forward to doing all we can to ensure this state continues to be a great place for business.”